Grazia India’s May Cover Star Gauravi Kumari On Putting Jaipur’s Heritage And Culture On The Global Map.

Grazia India’s May cover story shines a spotlight on Gauravi Kumari, the multi-hyphenate royal who’s quietly reshaping the conversation around legacy, heritage, and empowerment. Deeply rooted in Jaipur’s regal past and her sights set firmly on the future, Kumari is leading a movement that blends tradition with contemporary style. As a key voice at The Princess Diya Kumari Foundation (PDKF) and the co-founder of The PDKF Store, she’s creating meaningful platforms for women artisans and redefining what it means to preserve culture in a modern, globalised world. Known for celebrating individuality and ambition, Grazia India provides the perfect platform for her story – one of passion, reinvention, and breaking boundaries.

Crediting the women in her family as her greatest source of strength and inspiration, she expressed, “I always look to them [her family, her mother Diya Kumari and grandmother, (Rajmata) Padmini Devi] and how they effortlessly managed to stay modern yet totally rooted. And for me too, whether it’s in my projects or my personal life, I’ve always wanted to stay rooted in them and have conversations on how to make it relevant and stay modern.”

Kumari also spoke about her goals for the foundation, sharing, “The objective is to help these women thrive not just economically but personally too. I see PDKF growing not just in the country but also globally. I feel the artisans deserve the exposure.”

Her time abroad also played a role in shaping her outlook. Shedding light on what inspired her approach to heritage retail, she said, “When I was studying in New York, I would spend hours in museum shops at the MOMA or The Met, and every time I went there, I would pick up something interesting that I didn’t think I’d find anywhere else in the city. I realised there was a complete lack of these design-forward museum-concept store spaces, and that’s when I decided to reimagine The Palace Atelier with Claire.”

On reimagining The Palace Atelier, Kumari noted, “We reimagined The Palace Atelier to not just be a museum store but an experimental contemporary concept store, and at the same time, we wanted it to be rooted in heritage and Jaipur culture.” She continued, “There’s a fine line between it being just a concept store and it being part of the museum. Moving forward, it must be a reflection of The City Palace and the museum, championing heritage yet rooted in contemporary design.”

Recalling her return to Jaipur during the COVID-19 pandemic, she highlighted, “When I moved back from New York during Covid, I launched The PDKF Store and started working with The Palace Atelier. I simply went ahead with my work; the visibility followed the work and not the other way around. On what led to the creation of The PDKF Store, she explained, “When I came onboard, I realised there was a gap. The ladies were making such beautiful products but there was a lack of design sensibility and no platform to sell them. That’s why we started The PDKF Store. It got such a good response that we went ahead, and now it’s a proper brand with a physical store and its own online presence.”

Emphasising the importance of global cultural dialogue, Kumari remarked, “My brother [Sawai Padmanabh Singh] just launched the Jaipur Centre for Art – it’s an experience that blends such diverse arts and crafts in a heritage setting, and that’s a great example of our vision. It’s important to have these conversations and cultural exchange of ideas from people across the world and not just in Jaipur.” She also opened up about the responsibilities that come with donning multiple hats, saying, “It’s a responsibility but it’s also a driving force behind everything I do. I don’t look at it like a burden, I’ve grown up with it, and it’s important for me to talk about it.”

Speaking about her biggest influences when it comes to style, Kumari revealed, “Definitely the women in my family – my mother, my grandmother and my great-grandmother Maharani Gayatri Devi – they are my biggest style influences. All my choices have been inspired by them.”

Looking ahead, her vision remains clear and powerful: “I want to be somebody who has helped in creating a positive and thriving environment for local craft and indigenous communities, who are helping keep our culture, traditions and history alive.” She further added, “To continue with projects and initiatives that are close to my heart, especially the ones that empower women and preserve our culture, heritage, and our craft. I would love to be involved in the art and culture space and not just be a curator and patron, but also an active participator in taking Jaipur’s heritage and culture global.”